Display bin structure



- March 22, 1938. T. M. DUNHAM DISPLAY BIN STRUCTURE Filed May 20, 1937 Patented Mar. 22, 1938 DISPILA'Y BIN STRUCTURE H Thomas M. Dunham, Aurora, ApplicationMay a, 1937, Serial 1%,. 143,687

' 3 mains. (01. 211 134) Myinvention relates to display him or stands adapted particularly for use instor'es for supporting articles so thatthey will bereadily visible and accessible to purchasersn 1 A usual practice has been-tosset upurows of comparatively, high bin on shelving units against walls in stores, but with such arrangement the bin or shelf contents are not/readily visible or accessible by customers. Such bin or shelving units have usually been made seven feet or more in height.

An important object of my invention is to utilize two comparatively short bin or shelf units instead of a comparatively high single unit, and to support the two short units back to back but slanted for better visibility and accessibility, and with a supporting base and a sales top for the two units, the space between the inclined units being then available for supporting'shelving for other articles to be displayed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a special base structure onto which the short bin units may be set in slanted position, and a display top for receiving the upper ends of the units so that the units will be securely held without the use of fastening means such as bolts or clips. 7

Still another object is to provide an arrangement so that two short bin units can be obtained by cutting in half a higher unit and setting the short units on a suitable base in slanted position and applying a display top thereon. The invention also embodies other features of construction and arrangement, all of which are embodied in the structure shown on the drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of structure;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified structure; and

Figure 4 is an end View, partly in section, of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the units A and A are of the usual construction, and the units may be the halves of a high bin or shelving unit cut in two. Each unit comprises a back wall [0, side walls I I, and shelves l2, and with the shelves subdivided by partitions to form bin l3 or, if desired, compartments or drawers l4.

Figure 2 shows the units out on the bias at the top and bottom with the units spaced apart at their bottoms and resting on the floor and slanted toward each other to engage back to back at their tops. 7A shelf plate l9 isv inserted between and secured along itslongitudinal edges to the backs of the units by means of welding or fastening devices and holds the units in spaced, slanted relation. The upper ends of the units are received by a top structure It, and this top structure may be fiat, or may be stepped as shown to provide display tiers I! which may be subdivided by metal or glass partitions l8 to define bins for merchandise to be sold. To further strengthen the structure and to afford additional display support, a shelf l5.may be inserted between the units A and A at or above floor level. Where the units are slanted, the shelving l2 will slant downwardly to aiiord better visibility for merchandise in the bins or compartments l3.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4, the units A and A are cut oil square at the bottom and the top, and a base structure 20 and a top structure 2| are provided therefor. The base structure, which is preferably of sheet steel, has the inclined steps or seats 22 for the squared lower ends of the units so that the units slant toward each other and engage at their upper ends. The upper ends of the units extend into the top or cover 21 to be surrounded by the flange 23 which holds them securely in position. The cover may be stepped as shown to provide supporting floors 24 and 25 which may be subdividedinto compartments or bins by partition plates 26 of glass, metal, or other suitable material.

The shelvings 21 in the units are shown as extending at right angles to the back walls so that merchandise on the shelves'may be more visible and accessible. The shelving may also be subdivided to provide bins or compartments 29. The part of the base 20 extending in between the lower ends of the units will afford additional support for merchandise to be displayed. 40

With my improved arrangement, base structures and top structures may be manufactured as separate elements and constructed to seat and support the units in proper position without the use of any special securing means such as bolts, clips or the like. The high type of shelving and bin units which have been used may be cut in two and the halves provided with a base and a top. With the shorter bin units supported in slanted position, the merchandise within the 50 bins or compartments on the shelving will be clearly visible and accessible to customers and additional display surface is provided by the top or cover structure, and the shelving and space between the units affords additional room for storage or display. The shelf units are also much lighter and, together with the supporting base and top, may be compactly packed and shipped to a customer who can readily assemble the parts without the use of tools or special fastening devices.

I have shown practical and efiicient embodiments of the various features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described, as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. Display structure of the class described comprising display units in the form of rectangular frames open at the front, said units having their backs opposed but being spaced apart at their bottoms and slanting toward each other to leave a triangular space between their backs, base structure holding the bottoms in spaced position, a top structure receiving the upper ends of the units to form a closure therefor, and walls depending from said top and engaging against the front and sides of said units to hold them in position.

2. Display structure of the class described comprising display units in the form of upright rectangular frames open at their fronts, said units being formed on the bias at their lower ends to engage a seating surface and to extend upwardly therefrom but slanted or inclined toward each other, means for holding the units properly spaced at their bottoms, a top structure fitting over and forming a closure for the upper ends of the units, and walls depending from said top and engaging against the front and sides of said units to hold them in position.

3. Display structure of the class described comprising display units in the form of rectangular frames open at the front, a separate supporting frame having inclined seats along its sides for seating said units at their lower ends and from which said units extend upwardly but slant or incline toward each other to leave a triangular space between their backs, and a cover or top structure recessed to receive and surround the upper ends of the units to hold them in alignment, said base structure and cover structure forming the sole means for holding said units together and in place.

THOMAS M. DUNHAM. 

